Anti-static sheet feeding mechanism

ABSTRACT

Sheet feeding mechanism comprising a pair of cables. Moving the sheets along the cables from one portion of the mechanism to another portion. Mechanism for dissipating and eliminating any static electricity built up on the sheets. The cables are made of conducting material, such as steel. Alternately, a stainless steel brush may be placed in the path of the sheets to eliminate static electricity.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to an anti-static sheet feeding mechanism and more particularly to an anti-static sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheets, such as sheets made of paper or the like, from one machine to another or from one portion of a machine to another portion of the machine.

[0002] In some sheet feeding mechanisms, single paper sheets are fed from one mechanism, i.e. a printer, to another mechanism, i.e. an accumulator, and thereafter the accumulated sheets are fed to some other mechanism, such as a stapler. In feeding the sheets, static electricity builds up by the movement of the paper sheets through various mechanisms. This static electricity can disrupt the feeding of the sheets and cause malfunctions in operation.

[0003] Present mechanisms which try to avoid these static electricity problems are complicated and expensive to manufacture and complex to operate.

OBJECTS

[0004] The present invention avoids these problems and has for one of its objects the provision of an improved sheet feeding mechanism in which the static electricity built up on the sheets is eliminated.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved anti static sheet feeding mechanism which is simple to use.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved anti static sheet feeding mechanism which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture.

[0007] Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a type of machine in which the present invention is to be used.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the anti-static mechanism of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION

[0016] Sheets S are fed one-by-one by a plurality of rollers, such as the input rollers IR through a machine M. They may be fed to an accumulating area A from which they are removed by other rollers, such as the exit rollers ER. The sheets S are moved between stationary cables 1 and 2 which are mounted in spaced vertical and horizontal relationship to each other. Cables 1 are spaced horizontally from each other. Cables 2 are also spaced horizontally from each other but are also spaced below cables 1 so that a space P is formed between them. The rollers IR and ER move (i.e. push and/or pull) the sheets in the space P between the stationary cables 1 and 2 from one portion of the machine M to the other. The sheets S are supported on cable 2 and cable 1 keeps them within the space P. For example, in the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the sheets S are fed one-by-one in the space P between cables 1 and 2 to the accumulating area A to form a stack of sheets (not shown). After a number of sheets S are accumulated in a stack, the stack of accumulated sheets S is moved out of the accumulated area A and moves between the cables 1 and 2.

[0017] Static electricity is built up on the sheets S because of the movement of the sheets S through the machine. In order to eliminate this static, the cables 1 and 2 between which the sheets S move are made of a conducting material, such as steel. It is within the preview of the present invention to make only one of the cable 1 and 2 as long as the moving sheets contacts that cable. However, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, both cables I and 2 are made of conducting material. The cables 1 and 2 are grounded in any conventional or well known manner. The sheets S movement between the cables 1 and 2 and come into contact with either or both of the cables 1 and 2 so that any static electricity built up by the movement of the sheets S is dissipated away (as by conducting to ground) by the steel cables 1 and eliminated.

[0018] Referring to the embodiment in FIGS. 5 to 7 some machines have cables 10 and 11 (which are positioned in a manner similar to the positions of cables 1 and 2) which are not made of steel or other conducting material so that the static electricity built up by the movement of the sheets S is not eliminated by contact of the sheets S with the cables 10 and 11. For example, cables 10 and 11 may be coated with Teflon or some other non-conducting material. In this instance, a brush 12, or some other similar element, made of steel or some other conducting material, is mounted beneath the path of the sheets S. The brush 12 is also grounded in order to conduct any static electricity to ground. The sheets S come into contact with the brush 12 and any static electricity built up on the sheets S is disipitated away and eliminated. The brush 11 may be stationary, or preferably, rotatable on an axis 12.

[0019] It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved sheet feeding mechanism in which the static electricity built up on the sheets is eliminated, which is simple to use and which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture.

[0020] As many and varied modifications of the subject matter of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description given hereinabove, it will be understood that the present invention is limited only as provided in the claims appended hereto. 

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOW:
 1. Sheet feeding mechanism comprising at least one cable, means for moving sheets along said cable from one portion of the mechanism to another portion of the mechanism and means for disipating and eliminating any static electricity built up on said sheets.
 2. A mechanism as said forth in claim 1 wherein said static electricity eliminating means comprises said cable being made of conducting material.
 3. A mechanism as said forth in claim 2 wherein said cable is grounded.
 4. A mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein a plurality of cables is provided, said cables being spaced laterally with respect to each other.
 5. A mechanism as set forth in claim 4, wherein a plurality of second cables is provided below the said first cables to create a space between said first and second cables an wherein the sheets move in the space between said first and second cables.
 6. A mechanism as set forth in claim 5, wherein said conducting material is seel.
 7. A mechanism as said forth in claim 1 wherein said static electricity eliminating means comprises an element in the path of said moving sheets adapted to be contacted by said moving sheets.
 8. A mechanism as said forth in claim 7 wherein said mechanism comprises a brush against which the sheets move.
 9. A mechanism as said forth in claim 8 wherein said brush is mounted below the path of the sheets.
 10. A mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein said brush is grounded.
 11. A mechanism as set forth in claim 10 wherein said brush is made of steel.
 12. A mechanism as said forth in claim 1 1 wherein said brush is stationary.
 13. A mechanism as said forth in claim 11 wherein said brush is rotatable. 